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UkraineAlert

Aug 9, 2016

Memo to Ukrainian Government: Privatization Can Succeed if You Get Out of the Way

By Basil Kalymon

On July 18, Ukraine’s most recent attempt at privatization came to a disappointing conclusion. Odesa’s petrochemical plant, OPZ, was placed up for auction, but after the government set a minimum price of $520 million, no qualified bidders came forward. As a consequence, the state still owns the enterprise, which continues to impose losses on the […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Aug 9, 2016

In Ukraine, Two Steps Forward and One Step Back: Procurement Reform Advances, Slowly

By Josh Cohen

Many changes have occurred in Ukraine since the Euromaidan, but the country still struggles mightily with corruption. Those efforts are symbolized in the ongoing fight to reform Ukraine’s corrupt procurement practices. For years, links between government officials and Ukraine’s “pharma mafia” resulted in the theft of approximately $100 million of the Ministry of Health’s $250 […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Aug 9, 2016

India’s Membership to Nuclear Supplier Group Will Bolster Civil Nuclear Efforts

By Pramit Pal Chaudhuri

This article is part of a series. India’s recent drive to become a full member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is part of a two-pronged attempt by New Delhi to revive a moribund Indian civilian nuclear industry. Many, especially in India, have portrayed it as a quixotic act of diplomacy by New Delhi because […]

China Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2016

South African Municipal Elections Illuminate Wavering Position for Ruling Party

By Mitch Hulse

The African National Congress’ (ANC) defeat in critical municipalities during the local elections held on August 3 has revealed cracks in South Africa’s ruling political party and has highlighted the diminishing influence of President Jacob Zuma, according to the Atlantic Council’s Chloë McGrath. “The results of this municipal election have certainly created significant shockwaves for […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

SyriaSource

Aug 8, 2016

Breaking the Siege of Aleppo Improves Jaish al-Fateh’s Standing with Syrians

By Saleem al-Omar

On Saturday, opposition forces broke the regime’s siege on Aleppo. Though the situation is critical, Syrians in opposition territories are rejoicing at the news. The opposition’s advance came as the opposition coalition known as Jaish al-Fateh, which is dominated by Islamist groups, showed unprecedented unity among groups that are normally fragmented and operating individually. The […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2016

Turkish Stream Project Expected to Headline Russo-Turkey Visit

By John Roberts

When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on August 9, one of the leading items on their agenda will be the revival of the proposed Turkish Stream pipeline across the Black Sea. Russia’s determination to pursue this project was made clear in a series of statements […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

MENASource

Aug 8, 2016

Another Crucial Moment for Tunisia

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

Tunisia is often described as the single success story of the 2011 Arab uprisings, a fledgling democracy in a region marred by chaos and turmoil. In the first week of August, the world witnessed the democratic process in action in Tunisia when Prime Minister Habib Essid, following a no-confidence vote in parliament, stepped down and […]

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2016

Central Asia Summit Establishes Core Initiatives to Enhance Regional Cooperation

By John Herbst

It was little noticed, but something of real significance took place in Washington during the first week of August. US Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the Foreign Ministers of five Central Asian nations that emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. With the US largely out of […]

China Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2016

Ruling by Fear: Armenia’s Descent into Dictatorship and the Rise of Resistance

By David Grigorian

The events in Armenia from July 17 to July 31 in 2016 and what followed in the early weeks of August highlighted the deep economic, social, and political problems that are facing Armenia today. More alarmingly, they have confirmed without question the country’s slide toward dictatorship and authoritarianism. It all began with a takeover of […]

Russia The Caucasus
US Navy’s Sea Hunter unmanned vessel (photo: DARPA)

NATOSource

Aug 5, 2016

New Tech Makes Submarines Quieter, Western Navies Face ASW Gap

By The Economist

During war games played off the coast of Florida last year, a nuclear-powered French attack submarine, Saphir, eluded America’s sub-hunting aircraft and vessels with enough stealth to sink (fictitiously) a newly overhauled American aircraft-carrier, Theodore Roosevelt, and most of her escort.

China France
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